Each year, some twenty cases of Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome linked to tampon use are reported in France. Characterized by various symptoms, such as high fever and skin rash, it can lead to multiple-organ failure and death in the most extreme cases.
In previous years, various studies have established a link between psychological stress and reduced immune defenses, but the mechanisms involved remained poorly elucidated.
It is world’s third most common tropical mycobacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy. Caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, it leads to the destruction of skin tissue and the development of large ulcers which can affect entire limbs right down to the bone.
Researchers have shown for the first time in mice that perturbation of the gut microbiota caused by the influenza virus favours secondary bacterial superinfection. These results open up new prospects for the prevention and treatment of bacterial pneumonia, a major cause of death in elderly or vulnerable people infected with the influenza virus.
Egypt, Algeria and Republic of South Africa are the African countries most at risk for coronavirus COVID-19 importation in the continent, due to high air traffic with the contaminated Chinese provinces. But these countries are also among the best equipped on the continent to quickly detect and deal with new cases. In other African countries, the risk of importation is lower, but health organization deficiencies raise concerns about rapid...
Malaria infection during pregnancy represents a major public health problem in the regions endemic for the disease, substantially increasing the risks to mothers and their unborn children. For newborns, malaria is linked to low birth weight and an excess risk of mortality. To protect this population, a team of researchers is developing a vaccine at the French National Institute of Blood Transfusion (INTS).
An Inserm team led by researcher Vittoria Colizza at Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (Inserm/Sorbonne Université) has modeled the potential spread of 2019-nCoV in order to orient prevention and surveillance policies. A model which comes with one caveat: derived from research, its purpose is not to make predictions but rather be used as a theoretical tool to aid public decision-making.
PREVAC-UP: The Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination extends follow-up and builds research capacity against deadly disease
In animals, a vaccine modifying the composition and function of the gut microbiota provides protection against the onset of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and certain metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity.
A study reveals that seasonal influenza vaccine coverage remains particularly low among pregnant women in France. Despite risks of severe complications, expectant mothers are often not offered the vaccine during their prenatal monitoring or, if they are, a large majority declines it.